Uganda Rugby Cranes 15s head coach Fred Mudoola believes hosting the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup will offer a major test for his side next month. The tournament is set for 18-29 July at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, featuring eight participating teams: holders Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Burkina Faso.
With three weeks remaining before the tournament, the team has intensified preparations and will play three test matches against Limpopo Country Districts 15s, Supa Barbarians, and Loftus 200 as part of their South Africa tour.
At a press briefing held today in Lugogo, Mudoola named a 29-man squad for the games. These players will join seven others who have been in a three-month intensive boot camp in partnership with Blue Bulls Rugby Union. Mudoola emphasized the importance of these preparations for the host team ahead of the continental showpiece.
“As hosts, the pressure is on us to perform. We are up against tough opponents like Zimbabwe and Namibia, but we will take it one day at a time and work on the small things we need to,” Mudoola stated.
Uganda won the tournament in 2007 in Madagascar and aims to reclaim the title on home soil. Mudoola noted the improvement in the 15s game in recent years, stating, “We went off the pace for about four years, but the game has recovered. Sevens have taken off, so we hope fifteens can go the same direction.”
Regarding the preparations so far, he said the team needs to keep improving. “Training has been tough, especially balancing it with the league. We have focused on improving skills and conditioning, and we hope that as we go to South Africa, we can continue working on skill levels and set pieces,” Mudoola noted.
Namibia, the last team to win the title on home soil in 2016, remains the most successful side with nine titles, while Kenya has won it three times.
